05.06.2025 15:30
The Ministry of Treasury and Finance has taken a total of 4,588 athletes, both foreign and domestic, under surveillance as part of its fight against the informal economy. The Tax Audit Board has invited 310 athletes engaged in various sports to provide explanations for their undeclared income for the year 2024. It was announced that a football player whose contract expired before leaving the country paid 70 million lira in taxes.
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The Ministry of Treasury and Finance Tax Audit Board (VDK) has determined that some athletes engaged in professional activities in various branches have failed to declare approximately 5.3 billion lira in income in the form of fees.
According to information obtained by AA correspondent from the Ministry, athletes have now entered the radar of the VDK Risk Analysis Center's analysis studies.
5.3 BILLION LIRA IN UNDECLARED INCOME IDENTIFIED
After the deadline for submitting income tax returns in March, the VDK took action and subjected 4,588 athletes, including football players, basketball players, and volleyball players, to risk analysis. A comprehensive study was conducted by scanning all information that would reveal their actual income, including open sources. The study found that athletes engaged in professional activities in various branches had failed to declare approximately 5.3 billion lira in income in the form of fees.
310 ATHLETES INVITED TO EXPLAIN
In this context, 310 athletes were invited to explain the undeclared income they received for the year 2024. It was observed that 3.7 billion lira of the risky earnings belonged to football players. Following football players, basketball players had 1.15 billion lira in undeclared income, while the remaining amount consisted of the income of athletes in other branches.
Considering that foreign athletes listed are set to leave Turkey at the end of the season, clubs were informed. In this context, the steps that clubs will take regarding the notification of invitation letters and informing the athletes are crucial. Thus, it is aimed for athletes whose contracts have expired to pay their taxes on the earnings they obtained in Turkey before leaving the country.
A FOOTBALL PLAYER FROM THE SUPER LEAGUE PAID 70 MILLION LIRA
During this process, a football player playing in the Super League, whose contract with the club has expired, submitted his tax return and paid 70 million lira in taxes before leaving the country upon receiving the invitation to explain.
Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek also emphasized the importance of voluntary compliance in the fight against the informal economy, stating, "In our work on the taxation of high earners, we have now focused on athletes. We expect our identified athletes to provide explanations and correct their declarations within the scope of voluntary compliance. Taxes that are not paid by athletes who do not fulfill their obligations within the scope of the invitation to explain will be demanded with penalties."
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